A University of Houston basketball fan took things way too far with a sign he held up during the Cougars’ 69-59 loss to Memphis on Saturday at Fertitta Center.
The sign read: “Better chances: Memphis making the tourney < Dolph making new music."
Young Dolph is a revered Memphis rapper who was shot and killed Nov. 17. The two men charged with first-degree murder in the daytime ambush at a Memphis cookie shop pleaded not guilty Friday.
Fertitta Center officials confiscated the sign but not before someone got a picture of it and it started going viral on Twitter.
That’s someone’s dad,son,brother.. Are you serious..Y’all go to far sometimes https://t.co/4B77wZHRVu
— Antonio Gibson ?‘‘?’? (@AntonioGibson14) February 12, 2022
“That’s someone’s dad, son, brother,” tweeted Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson, who played at Memphis. “Are you serious. Y’all go to far sometimes.”
As the photo spread across Twitter, others were even more upset.
Try it in Memphis. Try it. https://t.co/xNACh3y7AO
— 〽️icaela Watts?“? (@megawatts2000) February 12, 2022
Nah, he need his ass beat. https://t.co/fg9tWPKJ5K
— k. (@killabradshaw) February 12, 2022
Whoa this man is absolute trash ?—‘ for this https://t.co/kCIEXfY6fW
— ashley♡ (@prettywhnpash) February 12, 2022
>>> Making a joke about someone who was murdered https://t.co/DAPjMgncEe
— Jake McAnally (@jake_mcanally) February 12, 2022
The Memphis-Houston rivalry is intense with Memphis players chanting “F–k Houston” before running out of the tunnel, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Joseph Duarte. Of course, bringing a sign that makes light of the murder of a city’s treasured figure is a different level. Houston (20-4) plays at Memphis (14-8) on March 6.
Dolph released seven albums, including 2020’s “Rich Slave” which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts, but he was beloved in Memphis for his charity works. The 36-year-old was in Memphis to hand out Thanksgiving turkeys on the day he was killed.
When Dolph died, several Houston rappers – including Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Trae Tha Truth and Megan Thee Stallion – took to social media to pay their respects.
“Always called and checked on me. Like clockwork. Never hesitated. Praying for his family and children,” Bun B posted on Instagram at the time.
